Improvement in lacing shoes



CHARLES F. SPENCER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LACING SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 2,5 17, dated April 26, 1864.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLEs F. SPENCER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lacing Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specitication.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a pair of shoes with my improved lacing applied thereto; Fig. 2,*-a plan of the lacing; Fig. 3, an elevation and section of the bearing around which the lacing cord or cords pass, the same being shown attached to the leather; Fig. et, a modification of Fig. 3.

Like letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists, first, of a lacing cord or cords passing alternately over or around a series of bearings arranged on opposite sides of the central front slit, which opens to admit the foot in such a manner that the said cord or cords are adjusted on or removed from the bearings in a moments time, and so that the single action of drawing the cord or cords upward, when adjusted, will close the slit and therefore lace the shoe; and, second, in the peculiar construction and arrangement ot' the bearings around which the lacing cord or cords pass, said bearings being provided, respectively, with small pulleys or sheaves for lessenin g friction, and being secured to the leather by means of a stem having shoulders on each side of the leather.

As represented inthe drawings, A is a shoe of ordinary form and make, having a central longitudinal slit, B, in front, by the expansion of which the foot is admitted or removed from the shoe, and by tightening which the shoe is closed over the foot` and kept in place. The usual method of lacing, as is well known, consists of a set of eyelets, secured in the sides or :tiaps C C of the slit, through which eyelets pass double strings or cords, crossing each other alternately from side to side, and tied together at the top. There are several disadvantages in this arrangement, as follows: A double cord is required. There is great friction in lacing, and the top of the slit is drawn together, while the bottom of the same is left open, thus not only presenting an ungainly appearance, but not closing the shoe properly over the foot. The cords frequently break from the strain, and it requires considera-ble time, labor, and patience to replace them by weaving them through all the eyelets, and at the present time the cost of such lacing-cords is considerable. To remedy these difficulties, I employ instead of ordinary eyelets a set of bearings, D D D,secured to each of the sides C C ot' the slit, each bearing of one side coming centrally oppositel the space between two contiguous bearings of the opposite side, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, and over or around these bearings I pass alternately from side to side, in zigzag form, a lacing cord or cords, E, sewed or otherwise fastened into the leather at the foot of the slit. Then by drawing this cord or cords upward it is obvious that the tendency to strengthen will force the sides C C of the slit together, and form a secure and reliable lacing. Among the advantages of this arrangementare the following:

First. Practically but a single lacing cord, E, is employed, and this is not only sufficient in strength for the purpose designed, but it simplies the device and reduces the cost onehalf. This single cord, by the great: reduction of the friction, will last much longer than a system of double cords passing through eyelets in the ordinary manner 5 and if it should break, it is more easily replaced than they are. Still, as other parties might infringe my invention, I do not confine myself strictly to a single cord, though a double one is practically useless.

Second. The friction is greatly reduced, so A that the single action of drawing the cord or cords at the top will not only easily lace the shoe, but will close it at the bottom of the slit as well as the top. This is not the case in the ordinary double-cord and eyelet arrangement, for the friction is so great and the cords press on each other so hard where they cross that they close the slit only at the top, while it is left open or imperfectly closed at the bottom.

Third. The cord or cords E are adjusted around the bearings in a moments time, being passed rapidly from side to side by the hand, and this is done by the sense of feeling, as well in the dark as in the light. This is of the greatest importance, and the advantage of placing the cord or cords over or around the bearings instead of through the eyelets is manifest. A longer time is required in the ordinary arrangement to draw up the double,- eyelet lacing to close the slip properly than takes in my arrangement to adjust the cord or cords and tighten the same, and in the dark this can not be readily done.

I prefer to make the bearings D D D as represented in the drawings, the same consisting of a stem, a, which is either tubular or solid, but preferably tubular, of suitable length to reach through the leather and project above a sufficient distance to support a small grooved pulley or sheave, b, at the top, tui ning loosely, around which the cord or cords E pass, and having a shoulder or fiange, c, on the under side and beneath the leather, and a similar and beneath the sheave. These two shoulders lor an ges secure the stem firmly to the leather,

so that it cannot be removed under ordinary circumstances, and the upper one, c', keeps the sheave in place and prevents it from binding, while it is retained at the top by an enlargement of the stem. If the stem is made tubular, it is obvious that it may be secured at the bottom under the leather, and at the top over the sheave, in the same manner that an eyelet is secured in place by means of a press, but in such a manner as to allow the sheave to turn freely. These bearings are thus manufactured very cheaply, and are easily applied and give an ornamental and tasty appearance to the shoe. The employment of the sheaves reduces the friction tothe minimum degree, so that the lacing is most perfect in its action. It' desired, a button or head may be used at the top of the stem and over the sheave, as shown in Fig. 4.

I do not claim, broadly, a cord passing over a bearing or a series of bearings, as I am aware that such is in general use in mechanics; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a lacing cord or cords, E, with bearings D D, or equivalent, and the sides G O of the slit B of a shoe, said cord or cords passing alternately from side, to side,

around the bearin gs, and closing .the slit by a single drawing action at the top, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The construction and arrangement of the stem a, sheave b, and shoulders or anges c c', when the same are combined with the leather C, in such a manner as to allow the shcave a free turning action and to secure the device 

